TXST names winners of the 2025 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition

Texas State University has announced the winners of the 2025 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition: Heshini Weerakkody, a doctoral student in aquatic resources and integrative biology, earned first place, and Cassandra M. Swanson, a master’s student in human nutrition, received second place and the People’s Choice Award. The competition was held Nov. 7 in the LBJ Student Center Grand Ballroom.

The 3MT® competition challenges graduate students to present their research and its broader significance in just three minutes using a single presentation slide. The event encourages participants to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively to a general audience while showcasing the depth and diversity of graduate research at TXST.  

First- and second-place winners are selected by a panel of distinguished judges, while the People’s Choice Award is determined through a ballot vote by attendees of the 3MT® University Final. All winners receive cash prizes and recognition for their achievements in research communication.

For Weerakkody, participating in 3MT® was both a professional milestone and a personal triumph.

As the first-place winner, Weerakkody will represent TXST at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ regional 3MT® competition in Spring 2026.

She credited her success to her mentors and peers in the Department of Biology.

“I would like to thank The Graduate College for organizing the event and the judges for their valuable feedback,” she said. “I wouldn’t have achieved this without the guidance of Dr. Nihal Dharmasiri, Dr. Sunethra Dharmasiri, and the members of the Dharmasiri Lab as well as the encouragement from faculty such as Dr. Noland Martin and Dr. Jason Martina. I would also like to thank my family and friends for being a great pillar of strength.”

Weerakkody added that the experience has inspired her to share her research more widely and continue developing as a scientist.

Swanson, who received two of the three awards, said attending last year’s 3MT® competition motivated her to participate.

She expressed gratitude for her advisor and the academic community she is a part of at TXST.

“I am grateful to my thesis advisor, Dr. Ramona Salcedo Price, my lab team, CAMINOS, and the entire nutrition and College of Applied Arts community for their support,” she said.

Swanson hopes to become a registered dietitian and later pursue a Ph.D.

“I view communication as essential to creating meaningful change through medical nutrition therapy,” she said. “3MT® provided the opportunity to practice translating complex scientific concepts into something everyone can understand.”

Developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, 3MT® is an international research communication competition held at more than 900 universities across 85 countries.

The Graduate College encourages all graduate students enrolled in doctoral and thesis master’s programs to participate in future competitions. More information and resources are available on the 3MT® webpage.